Chrome & Neon

From James M. Surprenant:

I love the stuff that James M. Surprenant shares with us. Here's a small sample of his more recent shots from around America -- D.B.

(Paso Robles, California)

(Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey)

(Outside Troy, New York)

(Waterbury, Connecticut)

Target Practice

From lostlosangeles:

(East of the Sierras, California.)

Retired

From Kristen Smith:

An old truck at sunrise in Paso Robles, CA - I just couldn't pass this one by.

Fall On the Backside

Fall is my favorite season. I love the cool temps; the apples, pumpkins and cider at local farm stands; the porters and dark ales on tap at neighborhood bars; the soups and hearty meals on menus at my favorite restaurants; watching football and hockey on TV (especially after this latest dismal Red Sox season); Halloween and Thanksgiving; and, of course, the full palette of colors you witness as the foliage changes from its monochromatic green.

With the falling of the leaves (in New England and elsewhere, although unfortunately not everywhere across America), more of the Backside reveals itself. Buildings that during the spring and summer are hidden behind vines and overgrown trees, reappear during fall and winter.

And landscapes that look beautiful in lush greens become transformed in reds, yellows and oranges.

Below are some shots from various members of the Backside Gang that reflect the wonders of autumn, whether because of their subject, their colors or their feel -- DB.

(Photo by Dave Brigham: Abigail Draper Mann Woodland Worship Center, Dover Massachusetts)

(Photo by Kristen Smith: Abandoned camp site, Litchfield State Forest, New Hampshire)

(Photo by lostlosangeles: Mendocino County, California)

(Photo by Pete Zarria: Milan, Illinois)

(Photo by Dave Brigham: Watertown, Massachusetts)

(Photo by Pete Zarria: Tucson, Arizona)

(Photo by Joe Viger: Conway, New Hampshire)

(Photo by Kristen Smith: New Hampshire)

(Photo by Heidi Waugaman-Page: Antrim, New Hampshire)

Game Over

We cover a lot of ground here on the Backside, from abandoned train stations to old aqueducts, ghostly gas stations to dilapidated ski lodges.

Many of these places speak to lost jobs, broken lives and raise more questions than answers. But I find extra sadness in places where children once laughed and played that have been abandoned or forgotten. Below are photos from five members of the Backside Gang -- DB.

(Photo by Kristen Smith, Bedford Golfland, NH. For more of Kristen's photos, check out her blog.)

(Photos by Dave Brigham, Newton, MA)

(Photo by lostlosangeles, Los Angeles, CA)

(Photo by Mick Melvin, Simsbury, CT)

(Photo by Mick Melvin, New Britain, CT)

(Photo by Joe Viger, Stoneham, ME. For more of Joe's photos, check out his web site.)

Summer!

Happy Summer from the Backside Gang!

(Photo by Mick Melvin, Sunrise Resort, Moodus, CT)

(Photo by Dave Brigham, Guido Salvucci Bocce Court, Brighton, MA)

(Photo by Dave Brigham, Picture Lake Motel, Bourne, MA)

(Photo by David Burke, Great Barrington Fairgrounds, Great Barrington, MA)

(Photo by Michael Cevoli, Portsmouth, NH)

(Photo by Joe Viger, Salton Sea, California)

(Photo by Joe Viger, Franconia, NH)

(Photo by lostlosangeles, Salton Sea, California)

(Photo by Dave Brigham, Newton, MA)

(Photo by Chris St. Cyr)

(Photo by David Burke, Portland, CT)

(Photo by David Burke, Burrville, CT)

Graffiti Week, Part IV

In today's installment in our Graffiti series, we feature three shots by Joe Viger from the West Coast, and three by Mick Melvin from the East Coast, all of buildings that seem beyond recovery. Don't miss the first three posts in the series:

Part I, which features shots taken at the snack shack on an old ski hill in Weston, MA

Part II, which features some tagged barns in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Part III, in which contributor lostlosangeles features wonderful images from L.A., New Orleans and Detroit.

(Above three photos by Joe Viger: Salton Sea, California. For more on the Salton Sea, check out May 24, 2011, "The Salton Sea.")

(Photo by Mick Melvin: Windsor Locks, CT)

(Photo by Mick Melvin: Hartford, CT)

(Photo by Mick Melvin: Manchester, CT)

Graffiti Week, Part III

Here's the third post in our Graffiti Series, from the guy who goes by lostlosangeles. In these three pictures he shows us how graffiti speaks to decay and rebirth in the cities of Los Angeles, New Orleans and Detroit. If you missed the first two installments, check out May 21, 2012, "Graffiti Week, Part I," and May 22, 2012 "Graffiti Week, Part II" -- Ed.

From lostlosangeles:

LOS ANGELES...CITY OF DREAMS

When photos have text incorporated into the picture, I tend to name them based on that text. This is often due to my tendency to shoot graffiti that makes a commentary.

Some friends and I were hiking in Griffith Park in LA. This is perhaps one of the best vantage points of LA in all it's splendor: chaparral, steel, concrete, and smog. This graffiti perfectly frames the conversation.

NOLA RISING

It's a lot harder to explore abandoned Six Flags New Orleans these days. At least that's what the urbex rumor mill tells me. I was clearly quite lucky this day. The park was wide open and the storm clouds hung overhead, adding to the ominous atmosphere.

One thing I noticed about graffiti in New Orleans was that it often spoke of hope and inspiration. For me, this is a welcome departure from the usual narcissism.

BAROKEN AND YET

Walking down the hallway, passing blank room after room, I was suddenly struck by the burst of color coming from this long broken window. The fall colors lay an intense contrast against the cold concrete and graffiti. New life, just outside this dead car plant. This new life in turn being fed by death. Just outside the window and in the roots of these trees, a cemetery.

Gathering Nutrients

From Lostlosangeles:

I've been thinking a lot about L.A.'s Mulholland car wrecks lately. All of these wrecks have been tagged by the county, making sure there are no bodies. We found one bumper that still had cable attached. A failed attempt to lift the wreck out of the canyon. Now they just leave them. Slowly being eaten by the chaparral, no one's complaining.

These cars can offer so much meaning: survival, rebirth, reclamation, warning. I think it's time to go back soon.

Sweating it out in Slab City

From Joe Viger:

Just outside Niland, California, and adjacent to Salvation Mountain, you'll find Slab City. The name derives from the concrete foundation slabs left behind when the government tore down what was once a World War II Marine barracks called Camp Dunlap. It apparently was the training ground for Patton's armored assault on Northern Africa. Before long, squatters began camping there and the city was born.

Today there are about 150 year-round residents and scores of snowbirds that enjoy no electricity, no running water and the desert heat of the "last free place" that is Slab City. Truly on the Backside.





The RV in the background was blasting "The Wizard" from Black Sabbath's first album and it somehow seemed the perfect soundtrack.







This is The Range. One of three bars in Slab City and a primary location for a Shooter Jennings video you all should watch. Slab City was also featured in the movie Into the Wild.